![]() ![]() None of these conditions will be definitively recognizable from an x-ray, nor will their potential effects on the surrounding neurological tissues. ![]() Normal spinal degeneration or a congenital, genetic or developmental disc abnormality might all look identical on x-ray imaging studies. After all, there are many reasons for this to occur, ranging from a herniated disc to a ruptured disc to the occurrence of degenerative disc disease. X-rays will show a loss of intervertebral disc space, but will usually not be able to determine the cause of the narrowed intervertebral space. This article will explain why the use of x-rays should not be part of the herniated disc or degenerative disc disease diagnostic processes, despite the fact that narrowed intervertebral spaces can be clearly visualized on x-ray images.Įvery day, I get letters from patients who say that they were diagnosed with a herniated disc and possibly even a pinched nerve by a doctor or chiropractor who took x-rays. While x-rays may be useful in determining that some form of disc abnormality exists, it is virtually impossible to determine the exact nature of the disc problem without a more comprehensive visualization test, such as an MRI. X-rays are used to image bones and do not detail soft anatomical structures. Herniated disc x-ray films are not an accurate way to diagnose any disc pathology or any soft tissue condition, in general. ![]()
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